COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR TRANSMITTING AUDIO INFORMATION TO A USER

摘要

2096974 9209251 PCTABS00013 A communication device (10) for transmitting audio information to a user and a transducer (28) therefor are provided. The device includes processing circuitry within a compact housing (16) for converting input audio signals into transducer driving signals. A miniaturized microphone (20) is mounted on the housing for receiving the input audio signals. The input audio signals are then amplified and filtered to appropriate signal levels by the processing circuitry. Once the input audio signals have been processed in this manner they are applied to a driver which outputs transducer driving signals analogous to the input audio signals. The transducer driving signals are received by a transducer assembly (14) worn by a user and energize a pair of coils (72) located on opposite sides of an armature (73) forming part of the transducer assembly. The electromagnetic forces generated by the coils when energized cause the armature to move which in turn drives a plunger (46) so that the plunger moves in a vibrational pattern analogous to the input audio signals. The plunger contacts the skin of the user so that the vibrational pattern is received by cutaneous nerve receptors on the user's body or by the user's ears via bone conduction and is then transmitted to the user's brain for processing. A pair of springs (70) are located on opposite sides of the armature (73) and bias the armature and plunger (46) so that they move to a datum in the absence of driving signals and oppose their movement when driven by the coils (72).